Initial validation of the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ) in a sample of Chilean adults

Eur J Psychotraumatol. 2023;14(2):2263313. doi: 10.1080/20008066.2023.2263313. Epub 2023 Oct 10.

Abstract

Background: ICD-11 Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD (CPTSD) are stress-related disorders. The International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ) is a widely used instrument to assess PTSD and CPTSD. To date, there is no evidence of the psychometric characteristics of the ITQ in Latin American countries.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the construct and concurrent validity of the Latin American Spanish adaptation of the ITQ in a sample of Chilean adults.

Methods: A sample of 275 Chilean young adults completed the ITQ, a traumatic life events checklist, the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21, and the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale short version. Four alternative confirmatory factor analysis models were tested. Correlation analyses were performed to determine concurrent validity with associated measures (number of reported traumatic events, number of adverse childhood experiences, anxiety, depression, and suicidal risk).

Results: The second-order two-factor (PTSD and DSO) and the correlated first-order six-factor model provided acceptable fit; however, the first model showed a better fit based on the BIC difference. The PTSD and DSO dimensions, as well as the six ITQ clusters showed positive correlations with reported number of traumatic life-events, reported number of adverse childhood experiences, levels of anxiety, depression, and suicidal risk.

Conclusions: The ITQ Latin American Spanish adaptation provides acceptable psychometric evidence to assess PTSD and CPTSD in accordance with the ICD-11.

Antecedentes: El trastorno de estrés postraumático (TEPT) y el TEPT complejo (TEPTC) son dos de los trastornos relacionados con el estrés de la CIE-11. El Cuestionario Internacional de Trauma (ITQ) es un instrumento ampliamente utilizado para evaluar el TEPT y el TEPTC. A la fecha, no existe evidencia de las características psicométricas del ITQ en países latinoamericanos.

Objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la validez de constructo y concurrente de la adaptación al español latinoamericano del ITQ en una muestra de adultos chilenos.

Métodos: Una muestra de 275 adultos jóvenes chilenos completó el ITQ, una lista de verificación de eventos traumáticos en la vida, el Cuestionario de Experiencias Adversas en la Infancia, las Escalas de Depresión, Ansiedad y Estrés-21, y la Escala de Calificación de Severidad del Suicidio de Columbia, versión corta. Se probaron cuatro modelos alternativos de análisis factorial confirmatorio. Se realizaron análisis de correlación para determinar la validez concurrente con medidas asociadas (número de eventos traumáticos informados, número de experiencias adversas en la infancia, ansiedad, depresión y riesgo de suicidio).

Resultados: El modelo de dos factores de segundo orden (PTSD y DSO) y el modelo correlacionado de seis factores de primer orden proporcionaron un ajuste aceptable; sin embargo, el primer modelo mostró un mejor ajuste basado en la diferencia BIC. Las dimensiones de PTSD y DSO, así como los seis clústeres de la ITQ mostraron correlaciones positivas con el número informado de eventos traumáticos en la vida, el número informado de experiencias infantiles adversas, los niveles de ansiedad, depresión y riesgo suicida.

Conclusiones: La adaptación al español latinoamericano del ITQ proporciona evidencia psicométrica aceptable para evaluar TEPT y TEPTC de acuerdo con la CIE-11.

背景: 创伤后应激障碍 (PTSD) 和复杂性 PTSD (CPTSD) 是 ICD-11 应激相关障碍中的两种。国际创伤问卷 (ITQ) 是一种广泛使用的评估 PTSD 和 CPTSD 的工具。 迄今为止,没有拉丁美洲国家 ITQ 的心理测量特征的证据。

目的: 本研究旨在评估 ITQ 的拉丁美洲西班牙语适应在智利成年人样本中的结构和同时效度。

方法: 275 名智利年轻人样本完成了 ITQ、创伤性生活事件清单、不良童年经历问卷、21条目抑郁焦虑压力量表和哥伦比亚自杀严重程度评定量表简短版。检验了四种验证性因素分析的备择模型。进行相关分析以确定与相关措施的同时效度(报告创伤事件的数量、不良童年经历的数量、焦虑、抑郁和自杀风险)。

结果: 二阶双因素(PTSD 和 DSO)和相关一阶六因素模型提供了可接受的拟合;然而,根据 BIC 差异,第一个模型表现出更好的拟合度。PTSD 和 DSO 维度以及六个 ITQ 簇显示与报告创伤性生活事件数量、报告不良童年经历数量、焦虑、抑郁和自杀风险水平呈正相关。

结论: ITQ 拉丁美洲西班牙语改编版为根据 ICD-11 评估 PTSD 和 CPTSD 提供了可接受的心理测量证据。

Keywords: Chile; Cuestionario de Trauma CIE-11; ICD-11 Trauma Questionnaire; ICD-11 创伤问卷; PTSD; Spanish; TEPT; TEPT complejo; complex PTSD; español; trauma; 创伤; 复杂性PTSD; 智利; 西班牙语.

Plain language summary

This study is an initial validation of the Latin American Spanish adaptation of the ITQ with a Chilean young adults sample.The latent structure of the Latin American Spanish ITQ was better supported by a two-factor second-order model (PTSD/DSO); a six-factor correlated model was also acceptable.The six ITQ symptom clusters, as well as the PTSD/CPTSD dimensions were significantly positively correlated with three criterion variables: anxiety, depression, and suicidal risk.The number of potentially traumatic experiences, as well as number of exposure to adverse childhood experiences, was significantly associated with PTSD/CPTSD symptoms.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anxiety / diagnosis
  • Anxiety Disorders
  • Chile
  • Humans
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic* / diagnosis
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic* / epidemiology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Associative Research Program (PIA) on Cognitive Sciences, Research Center on Cognitive Sciences (CICC), Faculty of Psychology, Universidad de Talca, and the Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico [AF, grant number 1230715].